Overview: Federal Financial Aid Programs

The U.S. Department of Education sponsors several student financial aid programs. These are summarized here. If you need more information, you may contact (800) 4-FEDAID or visit www.ed.gov.

• Federal Pell Grant
  • Need-based
  • Awards range from $400 - $4,731 per academic year
    
    
• Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants: Additional grant funds available to Pell-eligible students enrolled in qualifying programs and/or meeting specific academic criteria
  
  
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Need-based
  • Awards range from $100-$4,000 per year
    
    
• Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH Grant): Provides funds to students planning to become teachers
  
  
• Federal Perkins Loan
  • Eligibility based on financial need
  • School loans the money
  • Borrow up to $4,000 per year
    
    
• Federal Work-Study: Part time employment for undergraduate or graduate students